Hoop Hogs Happy with Recent Defensive Performance

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The “Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball” has been slow to get points so far in the SEC. Two conference games for Arkansas, and they’ve scored 51 and 56 respectively. The season average was 82.

However, the loss to Texas A&M doesn’t look so bad now because the Aggies won at Kentucky, 83-71 on Saturday, proving they are a legit conference threat. The Hogs’ won against Vanderbilt on Sunday only scoring 56 points. But if you want to criticize the offense, then at the same time, you have to praise the defense. Arkansas had 14 steals and 5 blocked shots, the kind of aggressive style they need to have if they want to keep winning.

“We got the W,” said sophomore guard BJ Young. “So we can score 20 as long as we keep the other team under 20. It doesn’t matter as long as we keep getting defensive stops. That’s what we’re more focused on than offense because if we get stops we can always translate to offense.”

“The most important thing is defense of course,” said junior forward Marshawn Powell. “We scored 50 something, but how much did Vandy have? We have to play those types of games and play defense.”

Junior guard Mardracus Wade did not start in the game against Vanderbilt, breaking his 46-game starting streak. Oklahoma State transfer and Fayetteville native Fred Gulley replaced him.

Wade played 12 minutes, his lowest total of the season, and scored 3 points.

“There’s doubt in my head of why I’m not playing,” said Wade. “I didn’t do anything to lead up to it. So it’s a lot of stuff in my head right now.”

Wade has been on and off in recent games, scoring 17 against Northwestern State and only 2 against Alabama A&M.

He plans on talking with head coach Mike Anderson about how he can increase his playing time.

“Hopefully we can get things worked out so I can get out there pretty soon,” said Wade.